Context

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched schemes for Genetic improvement, diseases surveillance, Aquaculture and increasing fish species.

About

• The three programmes launched includes;
• Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp (Penaeus indicus),
• National Surveillance Programme on Fish Diseases, launching of aquaculture insurance product and,
• A Genetic Improvement Facility.
• Need of the initiative:
• To strengthen the farmer-based disease surveillance system,
• Disease cases in fishes can be reported easily,
• For investigated and scientific support is provided to the farmers.

Status of fishing industry in India:

• India is the third largest fish producing country with a fish production of 14.73 million metric tonnes.
• India is one of the largest exporters of farmed shrimps which is around 7 lakh tonnes.

National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD):

• Government of India is implementing the NSPAAD since 2013.
• Aim: Scheme focuses on improving the farmer-based disease surveillance system. Thus the disease cases are reported immediately.
• Consequently, disease gets investigated and scientific support is provided to the farmers.
• Department of Fisheries sanctioned the NSPAAD: Phase-II under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana programme to continue the efforts with more intensity.
• The phase-II will be implemented at pan-India.
• The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the State Fisheries Departments are anticipated to play a significant role in this crucial national surveillance programme.
  

The Genetic improvement program of Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp):

• Under the Make in India flagship programme, ICAR-CIBA has taken on the genetic enhancement of indicus, the Indian white shrimp, as a national priority.

The shrimp farming sector mostly depends on one exotic Specific Pathogen Free stock of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) species.

• Using indigenous feed, Indicus Plus (35% Protein), CIBA has successfully optimized breeding protocol and showed cultural potential across various geographic locations in coastal states.
• Phase-I of the program is launched under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) under the Central sector scheme to establish a National Genetic Improvement Facility for shrimp breeding.

The Genetic Improvement Facility:

• Genetic improvement of aquaculture species will provide promise in improving production.
• Strains of several species that grow faster, exhibit greater disease resistance, and have other more favourable characteristics for aquaculture have been produced through selective breeding.